Portable heater



March 19, 1-946. H. B. HoLTHoUsE;

PORTABLE HEATER Filed July 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 19, 1946. H. B. HoLTHoUsE PORTABLE HEATER Filed July 1'7, 1943 2y sheets-sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. fy/folowe,

e Patented Mar.V 19, 1946 PORTABLE HEATER Harry B. Holthouse, Chicago, lll., assignor to Galvin Manufacturing Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application July 17, 1943, Serial No. 495,153

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to portable selfcontained air heaters and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved and completely self-contained air heater which is light in weight and operates with high efdciency.-

It is another object of the invention to provide an ,improved portable air heater of the combustion type which utilizes electrical equipment exclusively in the delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber and in producing efcient comlIgeustion of the fuel within the combustion chamr. According to another object of the invention, all heated parts of the heating unit are enclosed to provide for maximum safety of heat radiation,

by utilizing an apertured heat radiating cover which 1s readily-detachable to permit servicing of the heater unit and filling'Z of the fuely reservoir which is built into the unit'.

It is a still further object ofthe invention to provide an improved portable liquid heater V-of the character described which 'isl simple in arrangement, rugged in construction, is comprised l of a minimum number of partsand is adapted for eicient operation over a prolonged service life with but a minimum of servicing.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood byreference to the following specication taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a corner perspective view, partially in section, illustrating a portable air heater characterized by the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side sectionalview of certain of the parts provided in the heater shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain other parts provided in the heater; and

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating in schematic form the circuit arrangement of the /electrically operated parts of the heater shown in Fig. 1. j

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the improved portable radiant air heater there illustrated comprises a supporting structure of substantially rectangularA form having a base II and a dividing wall I ar. ranged in spacedhapart relation one above the other in the order named. At the' left ends of the wall .I0 and base II, a pair of corner columns I2 are provided to maintain the two named parts ofthe supportingfstructure' in spaced-apart relation. The base I I is provided with four corner feet I3 which serve to maintain the lower edge surfaces of the structure above the floor or other surface upon which it is supported. A fuel reservoir in the form of a tank I4 is provided between the wall I0 and the base II, this tank having its lower side edges resting upon the upper edge of the base II and its upper side edges embraced by L-shaped members I5 which bear against the under edge surfaces of the wall I0 and are suitably secured thereto. At its lower left edge, as viewed in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

the tank I4 is supported by an L-'shaped cross l member I6 which extends between and is secured at its ends to the side portions of the base II. This tankis rigidly mounted between the wall I0 and the base II in the illustrated position thereof and serves to support the wall Ill at the right end portion thereof. It includes a fuel inlet neck I'I which is threaded to receive a cover cap I8 and is provided in an inset edge portion of the tank, in the mannenshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, beneath the right end portion of the wall I0. ik

As pointed out below, the heat radiating structure of the unit is disposed above the wall I0. For the purpose of preventing the radiated heat energy from being transmitted to liquid fuel withvin the tank I4, a heat insulating wall I9 is prdvided directly above the wall I0. More specifi#l cally, the wall VIll is covered with a layer of asbestos material or the likel which is maintained upon the top surface of the wall by means of a, superimposed metal wall 20, the edge portions of which are embraced within the beaded or flanged edges Illa of the supporting wall I0. Again referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the heat insulating wall I9 is coextensive with the upper surface of the tank I4 so that it covers the inlet neck Il, thereby to prevent heat from-being radiated to this portion of the fuel reservoir. The composite wall structure as made up of the three identified parts' I0, I9 and 20, is also provided with an opening 2| which is utilized for a purpose to be later described.

Briefly considered, the heating unit as provided in the portable heater, comprises a heating structure 22 which is supported above the wall H20 and has a combustion chamber formed therewithin, a fuel conditioning unit 23, an electrically operated fuel pump 24 for delivering fuel from the tank I4 to the fuel conditioning unit 23, and air moving means in the form of a fan 25 which is driven by an electric motor 26 to supply combustion air to the fuel conditioning unit 23 `and the combustion chamber formed within' the' heating structure 22. More specically considered, the structure 22 comprises a tubular body 21 of unit construction which is provided with' yalternate peripheral sections 23 and radially extending n elements 23. `The iln elements 26 asador? so that its open end 42 is disposed well within are bent double so that their inner ends are open to the bore or space within the tubular member -21. This space is divided axially into four series connected passages 33a, 30h, 30e and 30d by means of a substantially X shaped partition member-3|. \The edge portions .of the partition memp ber 3| arentted. within the upper open ends of certain of the n elements 29 and `are welded therein toprovide a rigid assembly. At its right end, as viewed in Fig. l of the drawings, the combustion chamber is closed by means of a plate 32 which is seam welded to the adjacent edge portions of the tubular member 21 to seal the end of this member against the escape of combustiongases fromvthe combustion chamber. At its left end, the tubular member 21 is sealed by the innerwall portion 33a of a housing shell 33 which nts within the opening Vil extending through the composite partition wall l0. I9, 20. This shell completely covers the open end of the tubular member' 21 and the end openings into the ns 29 and is weldedvto the edge surfaces of the tubular member to seal the left end of this lmember against the escape of combustion gases from the combustion chamber. The housing shell 33 is also provided with three additional "side walls which enclose the fuel conditioning th combustion chamber passage 30a and its closed end 4| is disposed within the' pressure chamber of the shell 33. The tubular member 43 is formed ofv arelatively high heat conductive material and includes an air and fuel mixing chamber 43 adjacent the closed end thereof and an equaliz'ing chamber 44 disposed centrally there.

oi..l These two chambers are separated by the heat conductive partitioning end wall 45a of A a cup 45 which is telescoped within the tubular member 42. More speciilcally, the two chambers 43 and 44 are in iiuid connection through perforations 46 which extend over the upper portion of the partition wall 45a. The equalizing chamber 44 is in turn separated from the pasunit 23 and the air moving fan 25 to provide an `air pressure chamber from which combustion air may be delivered to the fuel conditioning unit and the combustion chamber.- 4More speciiically,

the sneu sa nts snugiy within the parution wan 3 ported from the partition structure at the under# suitable bracket which extends through thatporuon of the tubu- I lar member within which the mixing an equalizing chambers are formed.

The fuel conditioning unit 23 also supports a` fuel injection nozzle 52 which opens into the mixing chamber 43 and is supported Within an opening provided in the tubular member 40 at a point adjacent the closed end 4| thereof. This side thereof. Thus, the motor 26 is mounted upon '4 the underside of the partition wall i0 by means of a" bracket piece 35, and the motor shaft is journaled within a bearing member provided in the Wall 33a of the housing shell 33. This shaft extends within the housing shell to supportrthe fan 25 opposite an air admission port 36 which is cut in the left side wall of the shell 33. The electrically operated fuel pump 24 is likewise mounted upon the underside of the partition wall I Il by means of a bracket piece 31. This pump is of the electromagnetically actuated type and may be of any desired commercial construction. At its inlet side, this pump is connected to the fuel reservoir by me'ans of an inlet tube 33 which is sealed within an opening provided in the end wall of the tank I4 and includes a. downwardly extending neckopening at a point adjacent the fuel conditioning unit 23 inomdes o housing an which is closed at one end 4| and isopen at its opposite or outlet end 42 for iluid connection with the passage 30a of the combustion chamber. This tubular member is seam welded within a fuel nozzle terminates one end of the fuel conduit 33 extending. to theoutlet'side of the pump 24, and

` is provided with air ports or apertures 53 for admitting air from the pressure chamber into the fuel streamv within the nozzle. Additional air is supplied to the mixing chamber 43 directly from the pressure chamber through openings 54 formed in the closed end 4| of the tubular member 40 around the fuel injection nozzle 52. Dur` ing normal operation of the heater, the fuel ad'- mitted into the mixing chamber 4| from the noz-4 zle 52 is directed against that portion of the tube` 50 which is disposed within the mixing chamber 43 and also against the walls of the mixing chamber.` Because of the high heat conductivity Y of the' tubular member 40 and its. thermal conneetion with the partition plate 45a and the tubular member 40, the enumerated parts are readily and rapidly heated to at least a fuel Vaporizing temperature upon energization of the resistance element 5|.

Y 'I'he vaporization of the fuel within the mixing chamber 43 facilitates the mixture thereof with the air supplied to the mixing chamber, so that a substantially complete vaporous airvand fuel mixture passes into the equalizing chamber 44 through the perforations 46 in the partition plate 45a. 'I'he equalizing chamber 44 functions to reduce the degree of turbulence of the mixture and, together with the partition plate 43, serves to disperse the mixture uniformly over the crosssectional area of the lconditioning unit outlet end 42. A mixture of substantially uniform fuel density is thus admitted into thev passage 30a of the combustion chamber for burning. The combustion of the mixture is initiated bythe passage ofthe mixture about the end 55 of the resistanceelement 5|, the degree of ignition heat provided at this end of the .resistance element An electric asoaew being determinedessentiany by the wattage input to the resistance element. For the purpose of supplyingadditional combustion air to the iuel mixture injected into the combustion passage 30a from the conditioning unit 23, the housing shell end wall'33a is provided with ports 66 arranged around the tubular housing shell 40. These port's communicate with the combustion chamber passage 30a and the pressure chamber within the shell 33. Combustion gases developed by the burning of the fuel mixture within the connectedv passages 30 are exhausted from the The sides of the cover 8 are provided with a symmetrical pattern of heat radiating apertures i0. While the configuration of the apertures may be of anydesired form, a pleasing appear ance is imparted to the cover structure by utilizing the illustrated pattern', wherein each set of four triangular shaped apertures is of substancombustion chamber by a pair of tubular mem bers 61 and 58 which vcommunicate with the combustion chamber passage 30d through anopening in the wall 33a of the shell 33. Morey specifically, the smaller tubular member 51 is mounted within the opening through the wall` 38a and is provided with one end which extends within the passage 3M and with an opposite end disposedadjacent the inner end of the larger vtubular member 58. 'I'he last-mentioned member is anchored within an opening through theopposite side wall of the housing shell 33 so'thatv combustion gases transmitted through the two tubular members are exhausted tothe atmostially square coniiguration and the several sets of apertures are arranged in horizontal and vertical alignment to cover rectangular areas at each side of the cover.

In order to provide for operation'of the heater without electrical attachments to a source of electrical current, a storage battery 8| may be incorporated in the structure for the purpose of energizing the electrically operated parts of the heater. As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, this battery is mounted upon the cross piece is and the base portions of the right angularly disposed iianged members, two of which are illustrated at 82 and 63 as being supported upon the base lli and the .cross piece I8. The third flanged member, not shown, extendsparallel to the illustrated phere.. If desired or necessary, a flexible hose -connected to the outwardly extended end of the member 63 and is mounted upon the upper edge of the base il.' With this arrangement, the

`ilanges of the three flanged members define a seat within which the lower edges of the battery 8| may be confined to restrain the battery against tubular member 58 may be used to conduct the combustion gases outside of the room or other closed space within which the heater is located. With the two members 51 and 'arranged in the vmanner just described. an annular space is provided between the adjacent open ends thereof, which space communicates' with the pressure chamber within the shell 38.. 'l-fhus, during operation ofthe fan 25, air is driventhrough th'e tubular member 68 to create a suction or low pressure vacuum at the mouth ofk the' exhaust opening from the combustion chamber passage. d, whereby scavenging of the products of fuel combustion from the combustion chamber is eiliciently eected;

For the purpose of enclosing all parts .of the heating unit described above, thereby to prevent those parts of the heater which "are raised to high temperatures from being contacted during operation-of the heater and to lenhance the pleasing appearance of the heater. an apertured cover or housing 8 is provided. This cover is adapted to be telescoped over the heater unit so longitudinal orl transverse movement relative to 4the remaining parts of the heater structure.

. The electrically operated parts of the heater may be arranged for parallel energization, either from the storage battery Bl or from any other available current source of appropriate voltage. To this end, the heating element 5I, the fan driving'motor 28 and the operating winding 2da of the solenoid fuel pump 24 may be connected in 1 parallel in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These threegelements may be con- Y nected for energization from the battery Bl or a source of current indicated by the bracketed terminals 84 through the contacts of an on off switch j 65 and'the contacts of a double-pole throw switch 88. In order to adapt the three elements 24a. 26 and 5| for selective energization from'the battery 8l vor an available 110 volt ,source oi' commercial current, for example, a voltage step- .down transformer Slis connected between the that the side walls thereof snugly embrace the sides of the supporting structure, and is provided with'stepped skirt portions 8a and 8b at opposite ends thereof which are spaced outwardly from the ends of the supporting structure and stop short of the lower side 'edges of the cover.

`Preferably, the co'ver 8 is formed of a decorative, heat resistant plastic material sothat any desired artistic color eiect may be obtained. The ends of the supporting structure are embraced by end members 9a and 9b which extend transversely'of the cover 8 at the ends thereof end members are respectively provided with enlarged openings, the lower edges of which are substantially flush with the .top edge of the flange terminals 84 and the external source terminals of the switch B8. The three circuit elements 85, 66 and il may. if desired; be mounted upon the base Il beneath the partition wall structure It,

I9, 20 in any suitable manner. Preferably, however, the on-ofl' switch 65 is so arranged that the .operating element therefor may be actuated with out removal of the cover l from the supporting structure. This may be accomplished by providing a suitable edge recess along one side of the cover 8, which recess is telescoped over the operating velement of the switch B5 as the cover d is positioned over the supporting structure.

In utilizing the above-described heater for the i A heating of a desired space, operation of the unit A and are edge mounted within the cover. These may be initiated by supplying current to the motor 26, the operating winding 24a of the pump 24 and the heating element 6i by operation of the on-oi switch B5 to its closed circuit position.

The three enmnerated elements may obviously be energized either from the battery Si or through the transformer 81 from a current source con, nected to the terminals 64, depending upon the position of the double pole-double throw switch It. When the motor-28 is energized, the resulting operation of the fan 2B causes air to be sucked into the pressure chamber within the shell 3b beneath the lower edges er the bese Vn end through the opening 36 in the housing shell".l

through the ports 56. Air is also forced outwardly' through the tubular member 58 to eiect scavenging of the combustion chamber in the manner explained above. Incident to the operation'of the pump 24, fuel is withdrawn from the fuel tank i4 and delivered through the conduits 38 and 8910 the injection nozzle 52, and is transmitted through this nozzle to the mixing chamber 4 8 for mixing with the combustion air. From this point, the fuel mixture is transmitted through the tubular member 40 and is ignited at the open endr l2 of this member in the exact manner previously explained. Combustion of the gases continues throughout the four connected passages 30 of the combustion chamber so that heat energy is conducted through the walls and fins of the structure 21 to the air coniined within the cover 8. The completely burned combustion gases are finally exhausted through the aligned tubular members 51 and 58.

From the above explanation it will be understood that the transfer of heat from the combustion chamber to the air Within the cover 8 is ac- ,I claim: 1. A self-contained portable air heater comprising a supporting structure provided with a base and a wall supported above said base, a fuel reservoir mounted upon said base, a heating unit supported above said Wall and including means defining a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet opening therein, a fuel conditioning unit provided with means for discharging a mixture of fuel and air into said combustion chamber, electrically operated ignition means for ignlting the fuel mixture within said combustion chamber, electrically operated means supported between said wall and said base and operative to deliver fuel from said reservoir and air to said fuel conditioning unit, a heat insulating wall interposed supported above said wall and including means complished in a highly eillcient manner, since substantially the entire surface of the Walls which confine-the combustion chamber are exposed for heat conduction therethrough. Accordingly, the temperatureof the air surrounding the structure 21 is rapidly raised to cause circuarea within which the heater is disposed. In this regard it may be pointed out that the walls of the structure 21 are heated a cherry red during operation of the heater and may be viewed through the apertures Goof the cover to provide a pleasing appearance. p

If it is desired to inspect any part of the heater unit, to remove the storage battery 6I from its supporting seat for charging, orto rell the fuel tank I 4, such operations may be readily accomplished by lifting the cover 8 ol of the supporting structure to expose all parts of the unit, including the fuel refilling neck il of the tank I4. Thus, it will be understood that all parts-of the heater are readily accessible for inspection and repair and that the tank I4 may be easily refilled as required. It will also be understood that with the cover 8 enclosing the heating unit, none of the heated parts of the unit are exposed for direct contact. Accordingly, there is no danger of a person being burned through contact with the heater, and the possibility of inammable materials being brought into contact with heated parts of the unit is minimized. Moreover, the presence of the heat insulating wall I9 between the heated parts of the unit and the fuel tank Il positively prevents the liquid fuel within the tank from being raised to its ignition temperadefiningl a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet opening therein, a fuel conditioning unit provided with means for discharging a mixture of fuel and air into said combustion chamber, electrically operated fuel preheating and ignition means included in said fuel conditioning unit, electrically operated means supported between said wall and said base and operative to deliver fuel from said reservoir to said fuel conditioning unit, electrically been disclosed, it will "be understood that varioperated air4 moving means also supported between said wall and said base beneath said fuel .base and a Wall supported above said base, a fuel reservoir mounted upon said base, a heating unit supported above said wall and including means defining a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet opening therein, a fuel conditioning unit provided with means for discharging a mixture of fuel and air into said combustion chamber, electrically operated fuel preheating and ignition means included in said fuel conditioning unit, electrically operated means supported between said wall and said base and operative'to deliver fuel from said reservoir to. said fuel conditioning unit, electrically operated air moving means also supported between said wall and said base beneath said fuel conditioning unit, said wall having an opening therein above said air moving means, means including a housing shell fitting within said opening for providing a pressure chamber within which said air moving means and said fuel conditioning unit are disposed. a heat insulating wall interposed between said heating unit and said fuel reservoir, and an apertured cover adapted to be telescoped downwardly over said supporting structure to provide an apertured air heating chamber within which said combustion chamber is substantially centrally disposed.

4. A self-contained portable heater comprising a supporting structure provided with a .base and a wall supported above said base, a fuel reservoir mounted upon said base beneath said wall, a heating unit supported above said wall and including means defining a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet opening therein, a fuel conditioning unit provided with means for discharging a mixture of fuel and air into said combustion chamber, elec` trically operated means for igniting the fuel mixture within said combustion chamber, electrically operated means supported between said wall and said base and operative to deliver fuel from said reservoir and air to said fuel conditioning unit, and an apertured cover adapted to be telescoped downwardly over said supportlngstructure to provide an apertured chamber within which said combustion chamber is disposed.

c Portable heating apparatus comprising a. supporting structure provided with a base and a wall disposed above said base, a fuel reservoir mounted upon said base beneath said wall. a heating unit supported above said wall and including means defining a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet opening therein, a fuel conditioning unit disposed above said wall and provided with means for discharging a mixture of fuel and air into said combustion chamber through said inlet opening, electrically operated fuel preheating means included in said fuel conditioning unit, electrically operated means for delivering fuel from said fue] reservoir to said conditioning unit, electrically operated air moving means supported between said wall and said base beneath said fuel conditioning unit, said Wall having an opening therein above said air moving means, and means cooperating with said opening to provide a pressure chamber within which said air moving means and said fuel conditioning unit are disposed.

6. Portable heating apparatus comprising a supporting structure provided with a base and a `wall disposed above said base, a fuel reservoir mounted upon said base beneath said wall, a heating unit supported above said wall and including means defining a combustion chamber having fuel with means for discharging a mixture of fuel and v between said wall and said base beneath said fuel inlet and exhaust openings therein, a, fue] condicloning unit disposed above said wall and provided conditioning'unit, said wall having an opening therein above said air moving means, means including a housing shell tting within said open ing for providing apressure chamber within which' said air moving meansand said fuelconditioninsunit are disposed, andv tubular means extend-im across said pressure chamber and communicathis with said exhaust openingto transmit exhaust gases from said combustion lchamber to the ntf mosphere, said tubular means communicating with said pressure chamber to transmitan' tothe atmosphere and thus produce a low pressure at said exhaust opening.v l f l. 1 s' 7. A self-contained portable heater comprisingv a supporting structure provided with a base and a wall disposed above said base, a fuel reservoir mounted upon said base beneath said wall, a] heating unit supported above said wall and including means defining a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet opening therein, a fuel con- `ditioning unit disposed above said wall and provided with means for discharging a mixture of fuelv and air into said combustion chamber through said inlet opening. electrically operated meansfor delivering fuel from said fuel reservoir to said conditioning unit, electrically operated air moving means supported between said wall and said base beneath said fuel conditioning unit, said wall e having an opening therein above said lair moving means, means cooperating with said opening to provide a pressure chamber within which said air moving `means -andsaldr fuel conditioning unit are disposed, and an apertured cover adapted to be telescoped downwardly over said supporting structure to provide an apertured chamber within which said combustion chamber is disposed.

HARRY B. HOLTHOUSE. 

